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Joshua Ortega Returns to LPC as Director of Calling and Vocation

Rod Light | July 24, 2018

Since graduating from Life Pacific College in 2008, Joshua Ortega hoped he would one day return to serve his alma mater.

LPC alum Joshua Ortega (BA ‘08) views his 14 years of service in local church ministry as an asset when he speaks into the lives of students as the new Director of Calling and Vocation at Life Pacific College-University.

But working with students is only one facet of Josh’s new role. He is also involved in networking local pastors and church leaders with our students as they find their place in God’s plan for reaching the world. His work in the local church has prepared him well to understand both the academic world and church life.

“Through full time ministry, the Lord shaped me to be more relaxed and open to new ideas and change,” Josh says. “Flexibility became a theme for me. I learned to listen to people and how to mentor others.”

His new role in Calling and Vocation allows Josh to mentor students through Foursquare licensing, job placement, ministry and vocational internships, fulfilling school ministry formation requirements, along with other responsibilities.

"Discipleship and administration have always been at the forefront of my abilities. A calm, relaxed approach to problem solving has allowed me to have an open and trusting relationship with people."

For three years, Josh has taught courses with Life Pacific. During that time, the Lord spoke to him about preparing for a more permanent role with the college.

“Being a pastor equipped me for this new role, where I will have more of a presence with students,” Josh says. “Discipleship and administration have always been at the forefront of my abilities. A calm, relaxed approach to problem solving has allowed me to have an open and trusting relationship with people.”

To help prepare students, Josh is also building trusting relationships with local church pastors and leaders in the Foursquare family and beyond. These relationships allow our students to experience church life as it really is and not merely how others describe it. Josh sees the interaction of local church leaders and LPC students to be mutually beneficial and wants to see those relationships expand in the future.

Including pastors and church leadership in what we do on campus allows our church family to be better connected. “If our pastors believe in our school and our mission, we can do anything,” Josh says.

Josh will oversee networking events, like our annual Church Fair, that encourage church leaders to visit the campus where they meet our students and make connections that often result in a match of skills, passions, and opportunities. Josh benefited from such connections and says he was well prepared because of his experience as a student at LPC.

Returning to Life Pacific College is very personal for Josh. “I love this school. I always have,” he says. “From the time I was a student, I have always wanted to come back.”

“My greatest hope is that the students see the importance of the Word of God, the reliance on the Holy Spirit, and that they do not take their time at LPC for granted,” Josh says.

Reaching the lost is no longer confined to a church building. Opportunities for evangelism today occur most often while Christians are at work and doing life. Josh believes today’s students need to know how to work alongside people outside the faith and learn to be a living witness of the gospel everywhere they go.

Further, Josh believes the school is moving in an exciting direction as our faculty and staff train students to serve in non-traditional ministry roles where they will be exposed to more people who need Christ.

“My greatest hope is that the students see the importance of the Word of God, the reliance on the Holy Spirit, and that they do not take their time at LPC for granted,” Josh says. He hopes to help students stay focused on practical and academic preparation that served him so well when he was a student at Life Pacific.

Another benefit of serving at Life Pacific is the growing diversity within the LPC community. Josh believes in the value of cultural competence whereby students, faculty, and staff learn together from each other. He says campus diversity is key to recruiting and preparing students for effective ministry in the Church and the marketplace.

Joshua holds a master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University (‘11) in theological studies and is pursuing further graduate work. He has a long history with The Foursquare Church and Life Pacific College and is a huge fan of the L.A. Dodgers.

He is an even bigger fan of his wife Allison, also alum of Life Pacific (’11), and their son, Phillip. The family enjoys trips to Disneyland, history, music, and spending time outdoors, especially in the Sierra Mountains.